Public Report to the Parliamentary Crime and Corruption Committee Activities of the Crime and Corruption Commission for the Period 1 April to 30 June 2019
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Public Report to the Parliamentary Crime and Corruption Committee Activities of the Crime and Corruption Commission for the period 1 April to 30 June 2019 About this report This report has been prepared by the Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC) for discussion at its public meeting with the Parliamentary Crime and Corruption Committee (PCCC) on 23 August 2019. The report covers the period 1 April to 30 June 2019 and includes year‐to‐date statistics for the 2018–19 financial year, unless otherwise noted. Some investigations undertaken by the CCC cannot be reported on publicly until they are finalised. Reporting on them could compromise a current investigation, cause reputational damage to those people under investigation or risk breaching legislation. Discussing the progress of an investigation also carries with it a risk of identifying people who are assisting by confidentially providing information to the CCC. Similarly, it is not possible to include detailed reports on short‐term or recent performance from the CCC’s witness protection program. The CCC acknowledges there is a public interest in our business and we need to report publicly to our parliamentary oversight committee, the PCCC. The information in this report strikes a balance between providing information to the public and protecting confidential CCC processes. More general information about our jurisdiction, work areas, roles and responsibilities can be found at www.ccc.qld.gov.au. Public Report to the Parliamentary Crime and Corruption Committee 2 Contents About this report ................................................................................................................................................................. 2 A message on behalf of the Commission ............................................................................................................................. 4 Year‐to‐date highlights ........................................................................................................................................................ 6 CCC Strategic Plan 2018–22 ................................................................................................................................................. 7 Objective: Reduce the incidence of major crime and corruption in Queensland ........................................................ 7 Objective: Build our organisational capability ............................................................................................................. 7 Agency overview .................................................................................................................................................................. 8 Areas of focus 2018–19 ....................................................................................................................................................... 9 Illicit markets ................................................................................................................................................................. 10 Serious organised crime threats and unresolved major crime ...................................................................................... 11 Corruption involving elected officials, excessive use of force and misuse of confidential information ........................ 1 3 Reform of the police complaints and discipline system ................................................................................................ 15 Organisational performance .......................................................................................................................................... 16 Key statistics 2018–19 ....................................................................................................................................................... 18 Appendix A Liaison meetings ......................................................................................................................................... 25 Appendix B Media .......................................................................................................................................................... 28 Appendix C External presentations ................................................................................................................................ 30 Public Report to the Parliamentary Crime and Corruption Committee 3 CCC Commissioners Alan MacSporran QC Sydney Williams QC Marshall Irwin Prof. Anne Tiernan Deborah Holliday Chairperson Deputy Chairperson Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner A message on behalf of the Commission I am pleased to present this report to the Parliamentary Crime and Corruption Committee on the activities of the Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC) for the period 1 April to 30 June 2019. The CCC has been busy finalising its reporting for the 2018‐19 financial year and preparing for the year ahead. The Strategic Plan 2019–23, which is now publicly available, has repositioned our areas of focus to include corruption involving exploitation of public sector resources, and a broader focus on stakeholder engagement and critical organisational capabilities. The new strategic plan also articulates our current strategic opportunities and risks, including keeping ahead of change, actively engaging with our stakeholders, and future‐proofing our workforce. In April, the CCC commenced its restructure to a service‐led design which will support the development of our critical capabilities. The restructure is expected to be finalised in October 2019 and I would like to thank staff for all their hard work and willingness to embrace change as we transition to a stronger, more responsive organisation. Since our last meeting there have been a number of significant operational outcomes for the CCC. In April 2019, the CCC charged the suspended mayor and seven councillors of Logan City Council following an investigation known as Operation Front. The operation, which remains an ongoing investigation, is one of the most significant investigations this agency has carried out. It is also a reminder of the importance of having an independent agency dedicated to combatting major crime and public sector corruption for the benefit of all Queenslanders. Other operational outcomes include an eighth person being charged as a result of Operation Stockade (an investigation into the activities of a Brisbane‐based law firm), a sixteenth person charged as a result of Operation Windage (an investigation into Ipswich City Council), a councillor being charged with corrupt conduct relating to Moreton Bay Regional Council, and an employee of Palm Island Aboriginal Shire Council being charged with 24 fraud offences. I am also pleased to report that Proceeds of Crime outcomes have exceeded their targets for the financial year. Specifically, we restrained $28.249M in assets (against a target of $18.5M), and $13.652M was forfeited to the state (against a target of $7.25M). Building strong cultures of integrity is the single most significant action public sector leaders can take to address corruption. In June, Ms Jen O’Farrell, our Chief Executive Officer, and I travelled to Adelaide for the annual meeting with the heads of Australia’s integrity and anti‐corruption agencies. This meeting is an important part of the Australian integrity framework and we were able to discuss issues of mutual interest to pursue our common goal of reducing corruption in public sector agencies. Our commitment to advancing the national reconciliation movement continues as we delivered a number of activities under our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) during the reporting period. To mark National Reconciliation Week, the CCC held an all staff event with guest speaker Professor Bronwyn Fredericks from The University of Queensland, who spoke to the theme, Grounded in Truth, Walk Together with Courage. In June, I visited the remote Indigenous communities of Mapoon and Napranum with our Director of Corruption Operations and Indigenous Advisor. These regional ‘Listening Tours’ continue to provide an invaluable opportunity to hear first‐hand from Indigenous communities about corruption, crime, policing and other law and justice issues. Finally, the CCC’s Annual Report for 2018‐19 is due to be tabled by the end of September 2019 and will provide a comprehensive report of our performance over the financial year. Public Report to the Parliamentary Crime and Corruption Committee 4 Matters arising from the public meeting of 3 May 2019 No matters requiring separate reporting were raised at this meeting. A J MacSporran QC Chairperson Public Report to the Parliamentary Crime and Corruption Committee 5 Year‐to‐date highlights 36 people charged with 126 23 people charged with 192 criminal criminal offences relating to offences relating to corruption crime investigations investigations 38 proceeds of crime 17 recommendations for disciplinary action restraining orders involving as a result of corruption investigations $28.249 M relating to 10 people 54 confiscation matters 3,109 complaints of suspected corruption concluded $13.652 M forfeited received to the state 3,381 complaints of suspected corruption assessed 37 crime investigations finalised 65 corruption investigations finalised 208 days of hearings relating to 36 days of hearings relating to corruption crime investigations investigations, including 3 days of public hearings Drugs worth $27,745 (est.) seized Public Report to the Parliamentary Crime and Corruption Committee 6 CCC Strategic